Favourite 5-star hotels in Switzerland
Bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north and Austria and Lichtenstein to the east, Switzerland is a landlocked country divided between the Jura and the Alps.
You are never far from mountains in Switzerland, with 48 peaks higher than 4,000m (13,000 ft), but this is also a country where lakes feature strongly in the geography. Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux all border Lac Leman, or Lake Geneva, in the French-speaking cantons, and Zurich and Lucerne overlook their own lakes in German-speaking Switzerland. Switzerland's third language is Italian, spoken in the mountainous south of the country, while Bern is the federal capital, located in the central plateau.
Famed for winter sports, especially skiing in high altitude resorts like Davos, St Moritz, Verbier and Zermatt, Switzerland is also a summer destination with plenty of watersports on the lakes and walking in the mountains. The famous paddle steamers of Lake Geneva continue to be one of the most relaxing ways to explore the lovely lakeside towns and cities, with the everpresent mountains a spellbinding background.
Our collection of the best 5-star luxury hotels in Switzerland is in the process of selection, with the first to make the grade being the majestic Carlton Hotel, St Moritz, an exceptional 5-star hotel in a wondrous location high in the Swiss alps.
Our pick of the best hotels in Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne and beyond will follow later in the year.